Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1887-12-15
A California Beach.

To Kate the beach was never fail
ing attraction. She and Goodnow now
had many horse race from Castle
Rock to the wharf, good half mile.
A mile beyond the wharf the beach Is
bordered hy series of low sand. heaps,
over which one looks far up the valley
to the Mission. Beyond these are high
bluffs. which rise abruptly from the
water s edge TO a height Of fifty feet,
Their face Is SCARED and yellow, but
their tops are carpeted with grass, and
in spring with patches Of yellow mus
tard and wild flowers. The deep color
ing of the bay, the dull yellow of the
beach aud bluffs, the green tufts Of grass
and the wild flowers creeping over
their edges, the distant hazy islands,
the long stretch of curved coast, mount
anguarded, were always noticed aud
admired. AS they cantered over the
shining sands the waves softly broke In
snowy masses OF form, aud the waters
often bathed the horses feet. II is pos
siLle to ride all the way to Carpenterla
by way of the beach at low tide, dist
ance of eleven miles. There is n con-
stant succession Of coves and erescents,
end at the western edge of CArpenteria
begins liue Of sauddunes. low and ro.-
ling, and fringed with low-growing
reeds and bushes.
There was still another beach ride
that all liked. 1t began at the wharf ex-
tended west. ward along the beach, past
steep bluffs, TO IA foot-path that turned
| inland through narrow opening
among the coast hills. Half "A mile
beyond the wharf rocky headland,
known as Castle Rock, projects across
the beach, and over this the road led.
Kate always rested her horse on reach
ing the top, and took good log look
at the prospect 1t commanded The view
across the valley to the mountains and
along shore TO Carpenteria, Rulcon,and
VanUura points, was unobstructed. This
headland is thirtymies from Santa Bar.
bara, and forms neck of land that at
first is only Il few feet above the waters
edge, but which soon merges into a
mountain. 1t was the middle OF
January now;but the air was warm, the
sky was clOudless blue, and among
the grasses growing along the edge OF
the cliffs we're brightly colured wild
flowers. Tlring Of the sea, she nd only
to turn her head to see the valley, or
could look on both at the same time,
Old Juan came with her one day, and
told what he knew of the eneighbUrhood.
The Point, he said, used to be called
La Punta del Castillo, and when the
Spanlards we're the only people living
in Santa Barbara there WAS strong
tort on the level ground back OF the
rock-a fort Of eaI tn mounted with -four
brass cannons. When ship sailed into
port, laden with goods from Spain, and
tringing many alnver to his sweetheart,
the soldiers fired the cannon and the
ship returned the salute. On hearing tn.
noise, the people ran down TO the beach,
aud waded into the surf TO pull the
b ats ashore. Among those who one
day went down 10 meet the ship was
old Tomaso. He expected certain
senorita from Spain 10 he his bride.
When al Iis b~-,- I1,a funrfcd, anu size
did not appear. they told him the truth.
She whom he sought had died on the
VOYAGE, and was buried at sea. Poor
Tomasol He fell on the sands, and was
as one dead. From that time his mind
was gone. After a long illness he came
every day to the beach, watching for
his beloved one. For many years he
waited, running down TO help haul in
every Loaf and looking long into each
face. but never saying word. He died
watching. too: for one day they found
him dead on the beach, his face turned
toward the sea and his eyes wide open.
-Eludrds Roberts, in Hd,per'S Magd.
zine.